Foot steering device for a boat



Dec. 13, 1955 DAMELS 2,726,622

FOOT STEERING DEVICE FOR A BOAT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 4, 1955 Harold E Danie/s I N V EN TOR.

BY MM 19%;

Dec. 13, 1955 H. F. DANIELS 2,

FOOT STEERING DEVICE FOR A BOAT Filed Jan. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

Harold F. Danie/s INVEN TOR.

United States Patent F FOOT STEERING DEVICE FOR A BOAT Harold F. Daniels, San Bernardino, Calif.

Application January 4, 1955, Serial No. 479,769

2 Claims.- (Cl. 114153) This invention relates to an attachment for an outboard motor boat and more particularly to a novel foot steering device for utilization on a boat equipped with an outboard motor.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision of a foot steering device for use on an outboard motor boat thereby enabling a fisherman using a rod and reel who desires to work along shore to always have his hands free for attending to his fishing tackle while still enabling the fisherman to safely navigate and steer the boat by using his feet.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of means which are capable of being easily attached and supported on a boat and to which cables may be readily attached for operation of an outboard motor with the cables being conveniently attached to the outboard motor.

The construction of this invention features the utilization of pedals which are mounted in a centrally positioned tubular mounting member. The pedals are attached to levers which are mounted in opposed bearing members of tubular construction which telescopingly receive clamps utilized in attachment of the device to the boat. Springs are provided for returning the levers to an initial position thus holding the steering mechanism amidships when no pres sure is applied on the pedals.

Still other objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a foot steering device that is simple in construction, highly efficient in operation, capable of being installed on various types and sizes of existing boats, and which is inexpensive to produce thereby permitting wide distribution and utilization.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this foot steering device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat and of an outboard motor equipped with the foot steering device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken along the plane of line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional detailed view as taken along the plane of line 3-3 in Figure 1 and illustrating in particular the relative arrangement of parts of the invention;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the foot steering device; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one form of means for securing the cables to the outboard motor.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral generally designates a boat of any convenient construction having seats such as 12 and 14 on either of which seat a fisherman or other occupant of the boat may sit for utilization of the invention. However, in order to pro- Patented Dec. 13,. 1,955

perly navigate the boat 10, the boat 10 will probably be steered by a person sitting on the seat 12. The boat 10 is provided with an outboard motor 16 of conventional construction and the foot steering device comprising the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 18 is provided for enabling a fisherman or the like to steer the boat using only his feet leaving his hands free for handling the fishing tackle. V

The foot steering device 18 includes a tubular mounting member 20 secured by means of a bracket 22 to the boat 10. Received in the tubular mounting member 20 as can be best seen in Figure 4 are the horizontal lower ends 24 and 26 of pedal members 28 and 30 having foot engaged portions 32 and 34 vertically offset from the lower portions 24 and 26 and interconnected by connecting portions 36 and 38. The tubular mounting member 20 therefore forms a bearing support for the lower ends.

24 and 26. Welded to the ends of the upper foot engaged portions 32 and 34 of the pedal members 28 and 30 are:

levers 40 and 42 having lower legs 44 and 46 received in tubular bearing members 48 and 50 of suitable L-shape in configuration. Received in the L-shaped bearing members 48 and 50 and adjustably held in place by means of fasteners 52 and 54 are a pair of hook-like clamp members 56 and 58 adapted to engage the gunwales of the boat 10 aiding in the holding of the steering device 18 in position. Suitable brackets 60 and 62 are used to fasten the bearing members 48 and 50 on the boat 10.

Secured to the upper ends of the levers 40 and 42 are cables 64 and 66 which may be attached as is shown in the phantom lines in Figure 1 to eyelets as at 68 and 70 which are sometimes provided on the rear portion of the casing of the outboard motor 16. The cables 64 and 66 are fairleaded about suitable pulleys or blocks 65 and 67. Alternatively, the ends of the cables can be attached to a clamp 72 which is clampingly secured to the operating handle 74 of the motor 16. The clamp 72 includes a bar 76 having apertures 78 for reception of the ends of the cables 64 and 66. Further, a substantially U-shaped clamp member 80 is rotatably mounted as at 82 in the center portion of the bar 76 and a lower clamping bar 84 is provided for underlying the handle 74 and is adjustably held in place by means of nuts 86 threadedly secured on the ends of the U-shaped clamp member 80. The construction of this clamp 72 can be best seen in Figure 5.

Terminally secured to the eyes 88 and 90 on the upper ends of the levers 40 and 42 are springs 92 and 94 which are also secured to eyes or other suitable means on the boat 10.

The operation of this foot steering device is quite simple. Foot pressure on either of the pedal members 32 and 34 will cause the individual levers 40 and 42 to rotate corresponding to the pressure thereby causing the particular cable associated therewith to pull the motor 16 in the desired direction and causing the other of the levers 40 to rotate in the opposed direction. The springs 92 and 94 will, of course, return the motor into an amidships position when the pedal members are released. When not in use this steering device will lie flat in the boat and not in the way at any time.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A foot steering device for an outboard motor comprising a tubular mounting member for attachment to a boat, pedal members having horizontal lower portions engageable in said tubular mounting member, horizontal foot engaged portions located above said lower portion and interconnecting portions interconnecting the lower portion and the upper foot engaged portions, levers secured to said pedal members at the ends of the upper horizontal foot engaged portions, tubular bearing members, and means for attaching said tubular bearing members to the boat, cables secured to said levers for attachment to an outboard motor, said levers including horizontal legs, said legs being received in said tubular bearing members, said levers including upwardly extending arms, said cables being attached to said arms, said tubular bearing members being of substantially L-shape, and said boat attaching means comprising telescoping clamp members adjustably secured in said tubular bearing members.

2. A foot steering device for an outboard motor comprising a tubular mounting member for attachment to a boat, pedal members having horizontal lower portions engageable in said tubular mounting member, horizontal foot engaged portions located above said lower portion and interconnecting portions interconnecting the lower portion and the upper foot engaged portions, levers secured to said pedal members at the ends of the upper horizontal foot engaged portions, tubular bearing members, and means for attaching said tubular bearing members to the boat, cables secured to said levers for attachment to an outboard motor, said levers including horizontal legs, said legs being received in said tubular bearing members, said levers including upwardly extending arms, said cables being attached to said arms, springs secured to said arms for urging said levers to an initial position, said tubular bearing members being of substantially L-shape, and said boat attaching means comprising telescoping clamp members adjustably secured in said tubular bearing members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 817,810 Sheen Apr. 17, 1906 1,705,402 Hatzi Mar. 12, 1929 2,309,159 Binger Jan. 26, 1943 2,507,894 Dorn May 16, 1950 2,599,791 Swenson June 10, 1952 

